Storage display system



Sept. 24, 1968 J GOLDMAN ET AL 3,402,490

STORAGE DI SPLAY SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1966 I.\VE.\"T0RS I JERoME GOLDMAN a BY PETER C-.GOLDMARK their ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,402,490 STORAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM Jerome Goldman, Noahs Lane, Norwalk, Conn. 06851, and Peter C. Goldmark, Rockrimmon Road, Stamford, Conn. 06903 Filed Dec. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 603,812 11 Claims. (Cl. 4035) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus which upon command displays preset multicharacter information by the rotation of indicia bearing elements, one for each character, to angular positions such that a preselected indicium on each of the elements is viewed through a viewing frame. Means for stopping the rotation of each of the indicia bearing elements, at preselected angular positions, are set prior to the occurrence of the display command.

This invention relates to storage and display apparatus. More particularly it relates to means for displaying multicharacter numerals, words or other information which may be readily preset to any desired combination of characters and actuated to display the preset combination upon the occurrence of a command signal.

Visual displays of numerical data and the like are used in many applications and various forms thereof have been devised. One well-known usage of such apparatus is in posting of results such as election returns, game scores, stock quotations, etc. on a board or panel for public viewing. To be effective the individual numeric or alphabetic characters of the display must be capable of being changed rapidly at will to form the desired combination and it must be possible to effect the changing of the characters from a remote point so as not to obscure display. Furthermore, to minimize confusion of the viewer, it is desirable to change all of the characters representing a given piece of information (and also, perhaps, all of the characters upon the entire information board) simultaneously and rapidly. Preferably, such control of the display should be possible from a remote point and entail a minimum of operator effort.

A successful form of such a remote control display system, used in a variety of applications, is disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,192,656 to John W. Christensen, assigned to the persent assignee. The individual digits of the display illustrated therein are capable of being changed rapidly at will to form the desired combination and the changing of digits may be effected from a remote point. Furthermore, the system of the aforementioned patent permits the simultaneous change of all digits in the display. The patented arrangement includes a motor and two rotary switches for each digit and the new information for determining the desired combination that is to be formed upon the simultaneous changing of the digits is programmed into the system by setting dials on a control panel. Upon application of power all of the motors of the individual display units are actuated in accordance with the programming to display the wanted combination of characters.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of multicharacter display apparatus having simpler automatic means for presetting and effecting a simultaneous change of the characters in the display to form any desired combination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such display apparatus which may be remotely controlled with a high degree of flexibility.

Briefly, a favored embodiment of the storage display system of the present invention comprises a plurality of storage display units, one for each character, connected by suitable cable means to a remote, common control means. The latter includes a pulse source, such as of the telephone dial type, for each display unit, a source of reset pulses and a command signal source.

Each of the display units includes a rotatable shaft mechanically coupled to an indicia bearing element such that the angular position of the shaft determines which indicium is displayed through a viewing frame. Mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith is a circular interference cam with a detent in the form of a stop shoulder notched in its circumference. Information as to the next character to be displayed is preset or stored in each unit by positioning a means for stopping the shaft at a preselected angular position correpsonding to the particular indicium to be displayed. The stopping means comprises a rotatable disc carrying a stop member for engagement with the stop shoulder when the shaft has rotated to the angular position determined by the position of the disc. A stepping means responsive to pulses from the remote control means rotates the disc to an angular position related to the preselected angular position of the shaft coupled to the indicia bearing elements.

Each display unit is thus preset and all are changed to display the new indicia by a single motor coupled by slip clutch means to all of the individual shafts. The motor is actuated by a command signal from the control means. After the new display is set, and the motor stopped, all of the stepping means are pulsed to return the associated discs to reference positions to await new selections, without disturbing the then set display.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof, when taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a storage display system embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a typical storage display unit for use in the system of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram for a four character display in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown for purposes of example a multi-channel display 10 such as may be incorporated in a larger display board. A remote control console 12 is coupled to the display by means of a multiconductor cable 14. Each of the display units 17 includes indicia bearing elements 16 such as of the book flap type disclosed in the aforementioned patent which is visible through a viewing frame 18.

The control console 12 includes a control panel having a plurality of selector means 20 for presetting or programming information into each storage display unit 17, a display command control 22 and a reset switch 24. Each of the selector means 20 provides upon actuation a predetermined number of electrical pulses corresponding to the particular character to be preset and may, for example, be in the form of a conventional telephone dial. The reset switch 24 operates a pulse source of any convenient type which produces upon each actuation a number of pulses at least sufficient to reset each display unit to a reference position. Thus if each display unit included the digits 0 to 9, the reset pulse source would produce enough pulses when actuated to return each unit to the Zero position.

The pulses representing the information to be stored and the reset pulses are transmitted from the selector means 20 and the reset source, respectively, to each storage display unit through suitable conductors in the cable 14. The display command signal is also transmitted through a conductor in the cable 14 to an electric motor 26 in the display 10 (see FIGURE 2). As will be described in detail hereinafter the motor 26 is mechanically coupled to each of the display units 17 and, upon actuation simultaneously changes all of the individual displays in accordance with the preset information.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown the construction of one of the display units 17, with the supporting frame, shaft supports, etc. eliminated to simplify the illustration, It will be understood that the elements shown therein will be mounted on a suitable base which carries appropriate bearings and supports for the various rotating elements.

Each storage display unit 17 comprises a serrated edge disc 28, such as a ratchet wheel, upon which is mounted a spring loaded member 30. The member 30 is supported at the end of a pin extending axially from the disc 28 and spring biased in a clockwise direction.

The disc 28 is mounted on a suitable shaft and rotated in step fashion by means of a pawl 32 driven by a solenoid 34. The latter receives the pulses from the control console and moves the pawl 32 up and down to rotate the disc 28 in incremental fashion in the counterclockwise direction.

The disc 28 also includes a pin 36 on its fiat surface which cooperates with a switch 38 to effect the reset function, as will be described in detail hereinafter. The switch 38 is so arranged that when the disc 28 is stepped around, the pin 36 will be moved to a point at which it opens the switch 38. This in turn will cause the stepping solenoid or motor 34 to stop.

The split flap indicia elements 16 illustrated are of the type shown in the aforementioned patent and are mounted about a shaft coupled for rotation with the gear 40. The latter is coupled through idler gear 42 to a drive pinion 44 fixed to the shaft 46. Thus, on rotation of the latter, a change in the indicia being displayed can be effected.

Also mounted on the shaft 46 for rotation therewith is an interference cam 48 having a notch 50 in its periphery to engage the member 30. The shaft 46 as well as gear 44 and interference cam 48 are driven in the counterclockwise direction by means of pulleys 52 and 54 and belt 56.

Drive power for the pulley 54 is obtained from the motor 26 by means of shaft 58, pulley 60, belt 62, pulley 64, and shaft 66. The pulley 54 is mounted on shaft 66 by means of a slip-clutch so that it will not be rotated by the shaft 66 upon application of a holding force to any of the members coupled to it.

As indicated in FIGURE 2 the shaft 58 extends the entire length of the display and is mechanically coupled by corresponding pulleys 60 and belts 62 to each of the individual display units. Thus, upon application of power to the motor 26, the shaft 66 of each of the units is caused to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction.

For ease of illustration, the wiring of the stepping solenoid 34, sensing switch 38, and the motor 26 were not shown in FIGURE 2. A suitable circuit arrangement for the four character display illustrated is shown in FIG- URE 3, wherein like elements in the several units are distinguished by the letters a through d respectively. An appropriate power source 25 provides power for each of the stepping solenoids 34a through d in the display units and the drive motor 26 over conductors in the cable 20. The switch 22 completes the power circuit to the motor 26 when closed.

Each of the stepping solenoids 34a through d is coupled to the power supply by means of respective selector means 20a through 20d. As indicated above the selectors may be of any form that provides a pulse output, such as a telephone dialing arrangement, wherein the number of pulses is related to the desired character to be displayed. Thus, each of the selector means 20a through 20d may be individually actuated to operate its associated stepping solenoid.

The reset arrangement includes a pulsing circuit 24 including separate pulsing elements 24a through 24d for each of the stepping solenoids. Each of these may, for example, be in the form of a spring loaded switch which makes and breaks a predetermined number of times for each actuation. In series with each such reset pulser is the sensing switch 38. As will be described hereinafter, when the disc 28 is stepped so that the pin 36 reaches a predetermined reference position, the switch38 is opened to stop further actuation of the stepper from the reset source.

In operation, each of the display units is preset or programmed by actuation of the associated selector means 20 in accordance with the desired digit to be displayed. Actuation of each selector means energizes its associated stepper 34 a predetermined number of times to rotate the ratchet disc 28 to a predetermined angular position. The member 30 is likewise moved to a preselected orientation, the spring biasing retaining it in contact with the peripheral edge of the interference cam 48.

When all of the individual display units in the particular bank have thus been preset or programmed, the operator presses the command or set switch 22 to operate the motor 26. The latter, through the pulley and belt arrangements described in connection with FIGURE 2, rotates the shaft 46 until the stop or detent 50 on the interference cam 48 engages the end of the member 30. The resistance thereby afforded to further rotation of the shaft 46 causes the pulley 54 to slip with respect to the shaft 66 without interfering with the operation of the motor 26. The latter may be arranged to rotate for a predetermined time or number of revolutions so as to assure that each of the shafts 46 in the display units will make at least one revolution.

Revolution of the shaft 46 also rotates the split flap display through the gear train to present an indicium corresponding to the present position of the ratchet Wheel 28. Actuation of the motor 26 therefore results in a change of all of the display units essentially simultaneously in response to actuation of the switch 22.

Once the new characters are displayed, the operator actuates the reset switch 24 to make available a predetermined number of stepping pulses at each of the stepping solenoids 34. The number of pulses is sufficient to insure that in each unit the ratchet wheel 28 is rotated counterclockwise until the pin 36 opens its respective sensing switch 38. This establishes the reference position for each display unit without interfering with the existing display.

Once the reset has been accomplished, the operator may then proceed to program or preset each of the display units to present a new character upon the next command. This also is accomplished without affecting the existing display.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple, reliable construction for providing a multi-character display. The apparatus may be readily controlled to simultaneously change all of the characters to present a preset or programmed indication. The new information to be displayed may be preset into the apparatus while the previously set information is still available to view. Thereafter, the new display may be effected simply by pressing a button.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations of the foregoing structure may be effected by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, any form of incremental motor drive may be used to actuate the preset mechanism, in place of the solenoid stepper illustrated. Similarly, a drum or other type of display may be used in place of the split flap type shown and many variations of the mechanical and electrical arrangements will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is desired that the invention be limited only by the scope of the "appended claims.

We claim:

1. Display apparatus comprising a plurality of individual display units, each of said units including movable means bearing a plurality of indicia for selective display, means including a selectively positionable stop means in each of said units for storing information representative of an indicium to be displayed, a different position of said stop means corresponding to each of said indicia, cam means adapted to engage said stop means coupled to each of said indicia bearing means for movement therewith, and means coupled to all of said display units and responsive to an activating stimulus to move each of said cam means into engagement with said stop means, thereby causing said respective indica bearing means to display the selected indicia corresponding to the stored information.

2. Display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicia bearing means and said cam means are rotatable and said means to move said cam means comprises an electric motor having a shaft coupled to all of said cam means, whereby all of said cam means are simultaneously rotatable.

3. Display apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the coupling between said shaft and each of said cam means comprises slip means, whereby continued operation of said motor after engagement of a cam means with its associated stop means will not result in further rotation of said cam means.

4. Display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising control means :operable from a remote point for selectively positioning each of said stop means at any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

5. Display apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising reset means operable from said remote points for positioning all of said stop means to corresponding reference positions.

6. Display apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the activating stimulus for said means to move said cam means is supplied from said remote point.

7. A single character display unit suitable for use in a multicharacter display comprising, a rotatable indicia bearing element for selectively displaying any one of a plurality of indicia, cam means having a detent portion coupled to said indicia bearing element for rotation therewith, a rotatable disc carrying a stop member for movement along a circular path intersecting the path of the detent portion on said cam means, means for rotating said disc to position said stop member at one of a plurality of points along its circular path representing a selected indicium, and means to rotate said cam means to bring said stop member and detent portion into engagement, whereby said indicia bearing element is also rotated and said selected indicium is displayed.

8. A display unit according to claim 7 wherein said disc is notched along its circumference and said means for rotating said disc includes electromechanical means having an armature and responsive to pulses of electrical energy to move said armature into engagement with successive notches on said disc thereby to rotate said disc to an angular position dependent upon the number of pulses applied to said electromechanical means.

9. A display unit according to claim 8 wherein said disc and said cam means are rotatable: about the same axis and said stop member comprises a pin extending axially from said disc toward said cam means, and an arm rotatably mounted at the free end of said pin and spring biased to rotate about said pin in a direction opposite to said disc, said arm riding on the peripheral edge of said cam means.

It A display unit according to claim 9 wherein said means to rotate said cam means comprises an electric motor and slip means coupling said motor to said cam means, whereby said cam means stops rotating upon engagement of said detent portion with the stop member while said motor continues to rotate.

11. A display unit according to claim 8 further comprising sensing switch means, and pin means mounted to said disc for movement along a circular path such that said pin means contacts and opens said sensing switch means at a point on said circular path, said point establishing a reset reference position for said disc, whereby said pulses driving said electromechanical means are interrupted and said disc rotation ceases when said disc has rotated to said reference position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,142,054 7/1954 Burri. 3,192,656 7/1965 Christensen 40-72 XR 3,212,395 10/1965 Bailey 4035 XR EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

\VILLIAM H. GRIEB, A ssistanl Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE CORRECTION Patent No. 3,402,490 September 24, 1968 Jerome Goldman et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 to 5, Noah's Lane, Norwalk, Conn. 06851, and Peter C. Goldmark, Rockrimmon Road, Stamford, Conn. 06903" should read Norwalk, Conn. and Peter C. Goldmark, Stamford, Conn. assignors to Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. New York, N. Y. a corporation of New York Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

